Flame’s Extinction
The kiss was so damn good that Xichen really doesn't want to leave the other's lips but they have to do it when they feel a frozen wind bum against their bodies.
"What the hell?"
When they separate, Xichen looked at the ice covering the ground under his feet, listening to the screams in the distance wondering what was happening there; he wanted to run there but he remembered that he was not alone so he turned to Shuoyue to take him to a safer place but when Xichen look at him again his eyes widened up in surprise.
"Shuoyue... Your hair…"
Shuoyue looked at him confused for a moment until he saw a strand of his hair, it had returned to his normal self, he knew that he maybe should have to tell Xichen that he change his hair's color but Shuoyue didn't know it could be something important.
"Oh it's back jeje, yes my hair it's white and it's a funny story how I have..."
"So you're behind all of this?" Xichen spit out those words with some anger and pain in his tone without letting Shuoyue explain himself
"I don't understand what you mean by that, Xichen"
"Don't make me laugh…you dressed up just like him…and you speak just like him... Only to trick me, right?"
"Xichen… I"
"SHUT UP… I don't want to listen to you anymore..."
Shuoyue took a step back, surprised by Xichen's shout. When he saw the long white hair of Shuoyue it was a painful hit of reality, that he exploded, that little hope to see his dead lover again in only a few seconds dies.
Shuoyue was astonished to see the cute prince who looked at him all night, smiled at him, and also kissed him... transforming into someone completely different.
Xichen avoids to look at those green eyes that have confusion, fear, and longing in their reflection, one that seemed so authentic but Xichen only could think that without a doubt Shuoyue was a great actor, although his eyes had not changed their color just like his hair Xichen knew that the boy in front of him couldn't be his beloved Lan Yue.
He didn't understand how someone from the ice clan could have those green eyes instead of blue ones but Xichen didn't have the time to ask him or the interest, without saying anything else to him, he quickly walked away from Shuoyue thinking that the boy had lied to him only to betray him so at that moment he pays more attention to the screams that were heard more and more heartbreaking.
Shuoyue's eyes widened opened with surprise as he saw Xichen's back moving further and further away from him, he raised one of his hands hoping to reach him but he couldn't catch him on time... seeing that image made him have a slight pain in his chest as a memory settled in his mind, it was in a very different place near to a peach tree, Prince Xichen was walking away from him without listening to him... Just like a few seconds ago, Shuoyue tried to hug him but he couldn't touch him at all.
Shuoyue held his head tightly at the small pain that grew up in his temples and without realizing it he whispered the other's name in a soft sigh waiting for him to return.
"A-Chen…."
After that whisper, he curled up in a small ball squatting hugging his knees waiting for Xichen but the prince never came back...
…
A few minutes ago
After prince Xichen went for a walk with Shuoyue, Bai Lian took the opportunity to send his son Zhen to prepare the surprise for the guests, most of whom were already completely focused on drinking non-stop, everyone was dancing and having fun without paying much attention to their surroundings.
Even the fire king was just dancing with his new official partner, drinking like there was no tomorrow, smiling and showing love to each other, a very moving scene for many who knew the King Yang's suffering from losing his previous wife but Bai Lian was the only one who saw that view with revulsion, he had a tremendous hatred inside him so seeing his enemies enjoying life, laughing and full of vigor only increased his resentment.
As a part of the plan, Bai Zhen had seduced a fire palace maid many days ago by telling her that he would make her an ice queen only if she help him reach the altar of the fire clan's sacred flame, the source of power for the entire fire clan.
When they arrived she helped him to deactivate the security system and traps that the place has, Zhen murdered the young woman and began with the ritual, the young prince placed five different crystals in the form of a star around the pedestal that held the flame, and he used part of his spiritual power to open the frozen crystal which started to cover the flame.
That crystal was a very special artifact of his clan that covers any object, magic power, or person to freeze it from the outside to the center, and his objective this time was to use it to freeze the sacred flame of the fire land and bring with it an eternal winter throughout the immortal world.
As soon as he finished covering the flame, Zhen sent a signal to the sky that only his father could visualize to continue with the next phase of the plan…invading the fire clan.
…
When Bai Lian saw the signal he smiled satisfied, he was proud of his son’s success and soon he move to the next phase, on one of his arms he had a bracelet with embedded pearls on it; he touch one of them and when the white pearl changed to a dark blue his soldiers started to approach the castle.
During the whole night, his troops were all around the fire territory waiting for that signal, while they arrived at the castle, Bai Lian get up from his seat and walked toward the king and his couple with a cup of wine in his hand.
"I hope I'm not interrupting" Lian mentioned with a small smile from ear to ear.
He obviously interrupted a kiss between the couple on purpose and the fire king was going to complain angrily but Zhao couldn't allow his partner to be disrespectful in front of another king so he spoke first.
"Don't worry leader Bai, you didn't interrupt anything, Are you enjoying the party?" Zhao dropped the complaint of the king who was already quite drunk covering his mouth with one of his hands, making him lean on his shoulder.
"To tell the truth, I'll enjoy it even more from now on"
The ice king crouched down until he could whisper that on Zhao's lips but when the fire king saw that action, he couldn't control himself anymore and exploded, the fire king got up intending to hit the ice king but Bai Lian dodged the other's punch laughing a little. Bai Lian knew very well how to provoke the other and he loved knowing that it was still so easy to anger his rival as always since he made his job much easier.
"Oh my dear, you never change A- Yang"
Bai Lian negatively moved his head and faked being disappointed in him before he raised his hand with that cup of wine.
"For the future!"
He shouted that phrase to his troops, and in less than a blink they started to invade the castle while the ice king drank that wine in one shot before returning the hit to Lan Yang's face with the difference that he could punch the other, causing him to be thrown backward with great speed; however, the fire king was still on two his feet despite his drunken state.
With that blow he reacted and wiped his face, the alcohol vanished from his mind when he saw the ice troops invading his castle, the fire king's sons quickly looked for their weapons to start fighting except for Lan Xiu who, being pregnant, had to protect her baby more than anything at that time.
Shen take her and accompanied his wife until they reached a safe place or that’s what they thought, after leaving a kiss on her forehead he returned to the battlefield, everyone present knew that the ice king could not win against Lan Yang's firepower but Bai Lian was a very clever strategist and he would never go into battle without knowing the weakness of his opponents.
All the leaders joined the fight and even their children, protecting all the royal descendants of the fire kingdom because since some ages ago they had a peace agreement between them and they owed loyalty to the fire clan when thought the ice clan have always been reluctant to be under the command of the king of fire.
…
Back in time
Xichen looked back at Shuoyue when he heard that whisper calling him, even though he saw Shuoyue in that position, and for a moment he was tempted to go back for him because he wasn't one hundred percent sure that the boy had betrayed him on purpose, unfortunately, his restless heart told him not trust him and Xichen heeded his fear more than his heart.
He left him there and arrived at the courtyard where a massacre was taking place, his eyes became angry in a reddish tone as he joined the fight when he saw Shuang Hua in danger, he owed him a lot, that's why he returned the favor in any opportunity.
His gaze saw some of the guests running away and hiding in a frenzy, unconsciously his gaze focused on Madam Li who was desperately looking for Shuoyue. Xichen thought that if Shuoyue was from the ice clan then Madam Li was also involved in that chaos and has an alliance with his enemy, therefore he didn't approach her, Xichen took Shuang Hua to take him to another place.
…
Madam Li managed to see Prince Xichen entering and seeing how he avoid his gaze she knew the reason, without thinking twice she ran in the direction she saw him arrive, running desperately looking for Shuoyue anxious, Madam Li didn't know the ice clan was starting a war but since she knew that Shuoyue was the only one who would threaten the king's position and that was the reason why someone tried to assassinate Shuoyue, she could not let anyone saw the real appearance of the boy.
When she found him she ran to him and covered his body with a cloak to hide his hair, the boy barely lifted his face with hope in his eyes but he saw Madam Li instead of Xichen, his eyes filled with tears.
She understood without having to ask what had just happened, for someone who had lived in a brothel the hope of love was as null as looking for a needle in a haystack.
She quickly took him by the hand and led him with the rest of the artists to escape from the palace, no one saw them get on the horses and gallop outside the walls so no one tried to stop them. Shuoyue followed Madam Li in silence, when they were riding on the same horse, his eyes went back to the castle wanting to see the prince again.
…
Bai Lian began to fight with Lan Yang who was protecting his couple from the other, but Zhao, fed up with this situation, and looked for a sword to go fight as well.
"A-ZHAO! Come back here"
"Don't talk nonsense, you have a priority now"
Zhao scolded him angrily, despite his "delicate" appearance he was one of the most skilled swordsmen although Zhao would obviously like diplomacy after violence.
"Why are you doing this, Leader Bai?"
"Why? What a stupid question" the way he ask that without remembering the incident from the past annoyed the ice king
"You want power? Is that it?"
"I already have power Lan Yang, this is revenge"
"Ah? And what did my kingdom do to deserve to be the object of your vengeance?"
"Keep talking Lan Yang, I'm going to enjoy your suffering…” he mumbled with a sigh of resignation.
Bai Lian took out a beautiful white sword to challenge Lan Yang who gladly accepted it, the fire king showed a large red sword. They attack each other and when they are struggling to win over each other, Bai Lian smiles at Lan Yang with sarcasm.
“You really should have kept A-Zhao close to you"
The ice king's words made him open his eyes in surprise, without wasting time he immediately looked for his partner until he found him being surrounded and attacked by many people, his anger blinded Lan Yang for a moment and he forgot the enemy in front of him going only to save his partner.
Bai Lian let him go because that was his goal…
The ice king replace his sword with a beautiful white bow, in which he prepared a special crystallized ice arrow, the special attack from his clan, more known as the frozen death. Bai Lian gracefully aimed at the fire king but Zhao managed to see him, and as he could not allow the king to perish, to lose his lover, of course, he made a decision with the heart rather than duty.
"A-Yang! Watch out!"
He managed to yell at Lan Yang but Zhao, but seeing that Bai Lian had already shot the arrow, Zhao ran toward his partner to get him out of the way. Although he thought they could dodge the arrow this one was faster than he thought and pierced his back which reached Zhao’s heart.
"A-ZHAO!"
To be continue